“We’re going to need to bounce back,” said coach Dick Umile. “If you want to stay in the hunt and compete for the top it’s going to be an important weekend. I’m going to be saying that for the next four or five (weeks).”

Fourth-ranked UNH enters the weekend four points behind Boston College in the Hockey East standings with two games in hand and three points ahead of Merrimack, which took three of a possible four points at Maine last weekend.

Three points separate second place from fifth.

“We know going into this game they’re such a hard team to play against,” said junior defenseman Justin Agosta. “We need a bounce-back weekend right now

“Guys know we’ve got to be ready to go,” he added.

A series that UNH once dominated has tightened up considerably in recent years. The Wildcats (14-5-2, 9-4-2 HE) are 1-4-1 in the last six meetings with Merrimack and 12 of the last 16 games have been decided by a goal. Two others have ended in a tie.

Three of UNH’s next four games are against Merrimack (9-9-5, 7-5-2 HE), which is 4-1-1 in its last six league contests.

The Warriors are particularly tough at claustrophobic Lawler Arena.

“They just clog it up,” Umile said. “The rink’s small. They make it tough for you. There’s not a whole lot of room. They don’t give you too many odd-man rushes. We’re going to have to get (the puck) deep and go get it.”

“Merrimack’s tough,” said senior forward Austin Block. “They’re going to play hard every night. We’ve got to match that intensity.”

Team defense and goaltending have been strengths for the Wildcats for much of the season, but they’ve been inconsistent in both areas of late.

“There have been a few lapses in our defensive coverage obviously,” Block said. “If we communicate a little better in the D-zone we can fix those issues. I don’t think anyone’s freaking out.”

UNH has allowed 11 goals in its last two losses and starting goalie Casey DeSmith has been pulled in both games. The Wildcats fell behind by scores of 4-0 and 5-1 against Providence.

“We came out flat,” Agosta said. “We played way under the way we’re capable of playing in the beginning and we paid for it.”

“As I told the team, it’s not the end of the world,” Umile said, “but it was a missed opportunity by us. When you break it all down we had a lot of opportunities but we just found a way to give them easy goals.”

The six goals against Providence were the most the Wildcats have given up in a game this season.

“Everybody’s been chipping in,” Umile said. “That’s the problem. We’re in this together. We’ve got to trust each other. That’s what we talked about Monday.

“It’s not only physical,” he added, “but being mentally tough and mentally strong and staying focused.”

“It’s things that we can control that’s killing us,” Agosta said. “That’s the worst part about it.”

After a strong first half the Wildcats are 3-4 in their last seven games and starting tonight against Merrimack play six of their next nine games on the road.

“It’s always hard to play against them,” Agosta said. “Everyone knows we’ve got to come out a lot better than we did last week. The intensity is definitely there during practice this week.

“We’re still in great position,” he added. “The ball’s in our court to do well this year from here on out.”

“I don’t think anyone’s concerned,” Block said. “Obviously the first half went very well. Hopefully the adversity we’ve been going through the second half will reveal our true character.”

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Junior forward Dalton Speelman has been battling the flu and is questionable for the weekend series.

Senior forward Greg Burke remains out with a concussion.

“He won’t be around for a while,” Umile said of Burke. “He’s still got a lot of symptoms.”

Junior forward Nick Sorkin returned to the lineup last weekend after missing time with a broken hand.

“He did a pretty good job with the cast on,” Umile said. “He had a decent game. He’s getting a little more comfortable with it.”little better in the D-zone we can fix those issues. I don’t think anyone’s freaking out.”

UNH has allowed 11 goals in its last two losses and starting goalie Casey DeSmith has been pulled in both games. The Wildcats fell behind by scores of 4-0 and 5-1 against Providence.

“We came out flat,” Agosta said. “We played way under the way we’re capable of playing in the beginning and we paid for it.”

“As I told the team, it’s not the end of the world,” Umile said, “but it was a missed opportunity by us. When you break it all down we had a lot of opportunities but we just found a way to give them easy goals.”

The six goals against Providence were the most the Wildcats have given up in a game this season.

“Everybody’s been chipping in,” Umile said. “That’s the problem. We’re in this together. We’ve got to trust each other. That’s what we talked about Monday.

“It’s not only physical,” he added, “but being mentally tough and mentally strong and staying focused.”

“It’s things that we can control that’s killing us,” Agosta said. “That’s the worst part about it.”

After a strong first half the Wildcats are 3-4 in their last seven games and starting tonight against Merrimack play six of their next nine games on the road.

“It’s always hard to play against them,” Agosta said. “Everyone knows we’ve got to come out a lot better than we did last week. The intensity is definitely there during practice this week.

“We’re still in great position,” he added. “The ball’s in our court to do well this year from here on out.”

“I don’t think anyone’s concerned,” Block said. “Obviously the first half went very well. Hopefully the adversity we’ve been going through the second half will reveal our true character.”

nnn

Junior forward Dalton Speelman has been battling the flu and is questionable for the weekend series.

Senior forward Greg Burke remains out with a concussion.

“He won’t be around for a while,” Umile said of Burke. “He’s still got a lot of symptoms.”

Junior forward Nick Sorkin returned to the lineup last weekend after missing time with a broken hand.

“He did a pretty good job with the cast on,” Umile said. “He had a decent game. He’s getting a little more comfortable with it.”